Ed and Charlene Galenski: Deerfield Needs David Wolfram on Select Board

As lifelong residents of Deerfield for 75 years, we have watched the town change through those years. Change is inevitable and expected. In small towns, some changes can have a serious impact on those of us financially supporting the town through taxes. As we know, property taxes provide around 70% of the money needed to run the town of Deerfield. As we also know, property taxes usually increase moderately to allow households to plan for these increases. However, over the past five years, our town has seen an overall increase of 25% in our taxes!

For those people who live alone or are on fixed incomes, this increase may be unstainable for some residents to remain living in our town. Another concern is that higher taxes make it difficult for some younger families to afford homes in Deerfield. Without younger citizens, the town’s schools may show a decline in enrollment. Deerfield has always prided itself in its educational institutions.

Ensuring affordable housing is available is a serious and important matter for town officials to consider. Select Board candidate Tim Hilchey’s recent interview with the Recorder stated one of his most important accomplishments was the development of the Leary Lot. Each day we pass by the Leary parking lot, there are many vacant parking spaces. Have downtown establishments honestly benefitted from more business if there are noticeable empty parking spaces?

It is for these primary reasons that we are supporting David Wolfram for the Deerfield Select Board position. David has lived in town all his life and served as a former Deerfield Select Board member for nine years. He knows how important managing a town’s budget is to ensure the town is not making it financially difficult for taxpayers to remain in their homes and for young people to have an opportunity to afford a home in our beautiful town. A vote for David Wolfram is a vote for fiscally responsible spending and affordable housing in the town of Deerfield.

Ed and Charlene Galenski

South Deerfield